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Linda Wilkins: Insurance agent is active in the community

Lisa Marsh / Special to the Tribune
Jonah M. Kessel / Tahoe Daily Tribune
Jonah M. Kessel | Jonah M. Kessel / Tahoe Daily Tr

Editor’s note: This is one in a series of profiles for The Women of Tahoe, a special section of theTribune celebrating South Shore women who are a vital part of our community.

As a longtime Tahoe local, Linda Wilkins has no illusions about what it takes to live on the mountain.

“You have to be more adaptable,” she said. “Certainly, our winters can be a lot to deal with, but you get used to it.”



Wilkins came to Tahoe more than 40 years ago, when her husband, John, accepted a teaching job with the Lake Tahoe Unified School District. They raised their kids here; two daughters are raising their kids here also. Their son lives in Long Beach.

The subject of children leads to two of her favorite Tahoe pastimes – enjoying the outdoors and spending time with her grandkids. She has seven in all – ranging in age from 10 months to 25 years. Wilkins is a great fan of attending sports the kids are involved in. She emphasizes that Tahoe is a great place to raise a family.



“That’s always been one of Tahoe’s best features,” she adds. “Our community is very active in providing sports for local kids.”

She has been an agent with Farmer’s Insurance for more than 25 years and enjoys being of service and helping others. The Angora fire was a hard blow for her, and for her clients.

“It was very upsetting to have clients who lost their homes, and it was the most difficult for them – but it was rewarding to see them taken care of,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins is involved in the community on dual levels. She has been a member of the Lake Tahoe Business Referral Network for several years. The network allows businesses to promote one another and share ideas. Wilkins also is on the board for Ordinary People with Extraordinary Needs. OPEN is a nonprofit that assists locals with medical needs, such as transportation to doctor appointments, help with paying for prescriptions, etc. It is an organization she enjoys supporting with her time and energy.

She also enjoys reading and traveling; she loves Hawaii and has visited Europe. She also likes planting the garden, though she’s not too fond of weeding.

As much as things have changed over the years on so many levels, she finds what hasn’t changed inspiring. The positive feelings of community have not faded; people are as friendly as ever. The natural beauty of the seasons and the lake always are inspiring to her. She adds that our true nature as a small town showed the most during the crisis of the fire.

“I was so proud of my community, how well we came together to help each other,” she said.


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